Article 1(b) of Directive 2012/34/EU[1] establishing a Single European Railway Area (‘the directive’) refers to: ‘the criteria applicable to the issuing, renewal or amendment of licences by a Member State intended for railway undertakings which are or will be established in the Union’.
Those criteria are set out in Chapter III of the directive. Under the general requirements for obtaining a licence, Article 17(1) specifies that undertakings are entitled to apply for a licence in the Member State in which they are established. Railway undertakings not established in a Member State of the European Union cannot apply for a European Union licence and, as a consequence, cannot provide rail transport services (Article 17(4)).
Railway undertaking established in the European Union and in possession of an appropriate licence must comply with all the relevant requirements of EU legislation, including those on governance and separation of accounts.
Any specific case of alleged non-compliance with these legal requirements should be referred to the Commission’s services for an in-depth informed assessment.
[1] Directive 2012/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 establishing a single European railway area (recast) Text with EEA relevance OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 32-77.
As an EU candidate country and a long-standing member of the Council of Europe, Türkiye is expected to respect fundamental rights, which are an integral part of EU-Türkiye relations, and implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The Commission has repeatedly called on Türkiye to implement the ECtHR judgments as a matter of priority, including in the Commission’s annual enlargement reports[1].
The Commission is not in the position to comment on how the International Criminal Police Organisation implements an international wanted persons notice, issued at the request of one of its member countries.
The provisions under Article 15 and Annex VI of the Habitats Directive[1] establish certain restrictions for the means of capture and killing of species protected by the directive.
The Commission does not have evidence that burrow hunting with dogs is used to hunt species protected by the Habitats Directive nor is it currently aware of any negative impact of this practice on the conservation status of the populations of the species listed in Annex IV and V of the directive.
[1] Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7-50.
The Commission’s proposal for the next multiannual financial framework will ensure a simpler, more focused and impactful budget aligned with EU priorities.
Recognising the importance of food security and nature protection for Europe’s quality of life, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will aim to support farmers in a more targeted way, enhance environmental and social outcomes, and foster thriving rural areas in a simpler, more targeted manner, with the right balance between incentives, investment and regulation.
The Commission is aware of the challenges in Romania’s livestock sector. Several measures already exist and can be used to support the sector.
Current solutions for this sector under the CAP framework such as coupled income support, sectoral interventions, and investments allow for targeted strategies without causing disproportionate trade distortion.
Romania and other Member States also offer transitional national aid. Supporting breeding animal purchases is not in line with the current CAP rules.
Fishing capacity ceilings are vital to prevent overfishing. The Commission recognises the challenges they may pose for fleet modernisation.
Under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), Member States can already address additional capacity needs, as many have a margin between capacity ceilings and actual fishing capacity.
An evaluation of the CFP Regulation is ongoing, with results expected in early 2026, to assess its suitability in today’s context and emerging challenges.
The arrests of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and many protestors give rise to questions regarding Türkiye’s adherence to its long-established democratic tradition.
As a Council of Europe member and EU candidate, Türkiye must uphold the highest standards in the protection of fundamental rights, respect of democratic principles and the rule of law. The rights of elected officials, as well as the right for peaceful demonstrations need to be respected.
On 19 March 2025, the High Representative/Vice-President and the Commissioner for Enlargement issued a Joint Statement[1] noting that respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law are essential for the EU accession process and will continue to be an integral part of EU-Türkiye relations.
The President of the Commission also answered a media question with a similar message. In view of the current developments, the Commissioner for Enlargement has cancelled a visit to the Antalya Diplomatic Forum that was planned from 11 to 13 April 2025.
Türkiye is a key partner for the EU and a candidate country. However, accession negotiations with Türkiye have remained at a standstill since 2018, in line with the Council Conclusions.
The EU’s serious concerns about the continued deterioration of democratic standards, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and respect for fundamental rights have not been yet addressed as confirmed most recently by the December 2024 Council Conclusions on enlargement[2].
The issue will continue to be raised on all levels with the Turkish authorities.
The Commission may intervene in cases raising issues, where there is sufficient evidence of a general practice, of a problem of compliance of national legislation with EU law.
However, Law 4056/2012 concerns national administrative proceedings related to permits for the housing of farmed animals. Those administrative proceedings are not under the remit of EU law. Hence, this question is referring to national legislation that does not fall under the competence of the Union.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan Regulation[1] includes several interventions that may help farmers to adapt to the new requirements.
Under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027[2], in addition to direct payments, Greece envisages also support for farm modernisation investments, bio-security interventions and advisory services.
Where Union law imposes new requirements on farmers, support may be granted for investments to comply with those requirements for a maximum of 24 months from the date on which they become mandatory for the holding.
The Commission is aware of the reports on transformations of Hagia Sophia’s surroundings. Istanbul Municipality sealed a historical cistern next to Hagia Sophia used as a spa complex, and, in December 2024, took a decision to ban the unauthorised use of the cistern as a spa. In January 2025, concrete instructions for the required restoration were issued.
Türkiye should respect the letter and the spirit of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) 1972 World Heritage Convention and, therefore, avoid any implementing measure, without prior discussion with Unesco, that would affect the protection and conservation of the site in its original, historical context. Any steps that would endanger its outstanding value should be prevented.
The Commission will continue following the developments regarding the site of Hagia Sophia, also in the framework of its annual Türkiye report[1], as it has done over the past years.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) welcomes the launch of the United Nations Ocean Investment Protocol, a comprehensive new framework to align financial flows and business practices with the transition to a sustainable ocean economy. As a knowledge partner in its development, the EIB recognises the Protocol as a vital guide to scaling finance for a healthy and resilient ocean.
The United Nations Global Compact and the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) today unveiled the Protocol, which builds on the UN Global Compact Sustainable Ocean Principles and UNEP FI’s Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles. The Ocean Investment Protocol offers financial institutions, insurers, ocean industries, governments, and development finance institutions a clear pathway to collectively foster the growth of the Sustainable Ocean Economy and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG14 (“Life Below Water”).
As the largest supporter of the blue economy among development finance institutions, the EIB Group has committed €10.6 billion to blue economy projects between 2020 and 2024, mobilising €43 billion in total investments. The EIB was also a co-founder of the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles in 2017, helping to set a global standard for responsible investment.
The release of the Ocean Investment Protocol comes at a pivotal moment, as global momentum builds around a nature-positive agenda, the urgent need to curb carbon emissions, and accelerating action to tackle plastic and chemical pollution. The Protocol is intended to galvanize multi-stakeholder collaboration in the run-up to major ocean, climate, and biodiversity milestones.
Key elements include:
Holistic Guidance for financial actors to manage environmental risks and pursue growth in sectors such as offshore renewables, sustainable seafood, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Data and Disclosure recommendations, promoting greater transparency on nature-related risks and impacts and aligning with global reporting frameworks, including the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, and science-based targets.
Sector-Specific Roadmaps outlining responsible financing and operational practices in shipping, tourism, fisheries, renewable energy and other key ocean industries.
Policy and Regulation Support to foster investment-ready environments, highlight the importance of marine spatial planning and encourage incentives for sustainable practices.
Catalytic Role of Development Finance in advancing pipeline development for the Sustainable Ocean Economy, especially in emerging markets and coastal communities most vulnerable to climate change.
“The UN Ocean Investment Protocol is a strong complement to the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles, which the EIB co-founded,” said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. “It provides governments, financial institutions, insurers, and companies with the clarity and guidance needed to align private investments with the Sustainable Development Goals. By setting clear recommendations for responsible investment, the Protocol will help ensure that growth in ocean industries goes hand in hand with environmental stewardship and social inclusion. At the EIB, we look forward to helping turn these recommendations into concrete action for the benefit of people and planet.”
Background information
A thriving ocean is essential for biodiversity, food security, climate resilience, and global livelihoods. The Sustainable Ocean Economy links ocean health with prosperity—making targeted finance more urgent than ever. It is central to achieving the targets of the SDGs, the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. With ocean health inseparable from global prosperity, mounting pressures—rising ocean temperatures, overfishing, pollution, biodiversity loss, weak governance, and inequitable access to marine resources—highlight the urgency of dedicated investments and policies that safeguard marine ecosystems and drive equitable economic opportunities.
The ocean economy is already equivalent in size to the world’s fifth largest economy, and global markets are reliant on the ocean and its industries to support 90 percent of global trade volume. Developing a regenerative and sustainable ocean economy is becoming increasingly central to global transitions in trade, infrastructure, energy, climate resilience, food security and regenerative tourism. The Ocean Investment Protocol responds to the critical need for swift, holistic efforts to preserve ocean ecosystems and foster growth in sustainable ocean-based sectors. It outlines actionable steps to align investments with nature- and climate-positive outcomes, fostering innovation across key ocean sectors. By 2050, the market value of a refocused, sustainable and fairly shared ocean economy is projected to reach USD$5.5 trillion.
EIB
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.
High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.
On 3 June 2025, the AFET Committee will host a Structured Dialogue with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement. As foreseen in the Annex IV of the EP-Commission Framework Agreement, committees should hold exchanges of views with their relevant Commissioners on the state of implementation of the current Commission Work Programme as well as on the priorities to be reflected in the next year’s Commission Work Programme.
During the exchange of views, the AFET Members will have the opportunity to touch upon priority topics such as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the security situation in Europe and the EU’s neighbourhood and enlargement policy.
Question for written answer E-002019/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Bart Groothuis (Renew)
Galileo, the EU’s global navigation satellite system, is central to the EU’s drive for technological sovereignty. However, recent observations by experts raise doubts about system performance and institutional transparency. On 7 May 2025, the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) issued a notice[1] warning of potential service degradation ‘up to (…) disruption of service’ without a clear explanation. Moreover, an independent observer has reported that multiple satellites are broadcasting outdated data, potentially causing positioning errors affecting navigation and transport. At the same time, cryptographic authentication appears to be malfunctioning, weakening safeguards against spoofing and giving rise to concerns about secure use in critical services such as emergency response.
1.Can the Commission confirm the nature and scope of the reported system issues, including outdated satellite data and authentication malfunctions, and clarify what steps have been taken to mitigate risks to users?
2.What measures is the Commission taking to ensure the continuous accuracy and integrity of Galileo’s broadcast data, especially in the light of recent anomalies?
3.What protocols are in place to ensure timely and transparent communication with users and researchers during service degradations, and does the Commission consider the recent EUSPA notice adequate in this regard?
Question for written answer E-002034/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Mélanie Disdier (PfE), Fabrice Leggeri (PfE), Marie Dauchy (PfE), Mathilde Androuët (PfE)
Not a week goes by without a child in the EU being attacked by a sexual predator.
Currently, many European countries do not have a database listing every person convicted of crimes against children.
Worse still, sports club managers are neither obliged to request nor authorised to require a criminal record check from another Member State.
Given that the easiest way to be in contact with children is through sport, we urgently need to completely reassess the checks on coaches and managers to combat crimes against children.
Just recently in France, in the Dunkirk area, a Belgian educator, who had already been convicted of paedophilia by the Tournai criminal court, was able to work as a coach without the club’s managers being able to run a check on his past. Several reports, followed by complaints, revealed that the individual in question had already been convicted.
Does the Commission have plans for a system to check a person’s criminal record in other Member States, in particular their country of origin or residence, before they are employed in sensitive positions (for example, as educators working with children or as school bus drivers), as the person may have been convicted when working in such positions before?
Question for written answer E-002018/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Sirpa Pietikäinen (PPE)
Currently, the detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online is regulated by a temporary extension of the ePrivacy derogation[1] to allow the voluntary detection, by internet platforms, of such material.
Why has the Commission not proposed the mandatory use of AI-based tools on social media platforms to detect new CSAM, particularly in situations where end-to-end encryption is not an obstacle, despite research showing that AI is the only effective method for identifying new CSAM?
Submitted: 21.5.2025
[1] Regulation (EU) 2021/1232 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 July 2021 on a temporary derogation from certain provisions of Directive 2002/58/EC as regards the use of technologies by providers of number-independent interpersonal communications services for the processing of personal and other data for the purpose of combating online child sexual abuse (OJ L 274, 30.7.2021, p. 41, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1232/oj).
According to Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Member States are responsible for the organisation and delivery of their health services and medical care, in full respect of EU law.
-border mobility of healthcare workers is ensured via the rules laid down in Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications[1].
Based on the available information, the undergoing reform has no impact on the application of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications in case of temporary provision of services in another Member State.
The undergoing reform has no impact on the free movement of healthcare workers wishing to exercise their profession in another Member State regulating this profession with regard to qualifications. Those workers can still have their qualification recognised in line with Directive 2005/36/EC.
While there is no systematic mechanism to monitor national legislative processes, the Commission is open to receiving information about the effects of legislation and possible impact on the single market.
[1] Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ L 255 30.9.2005, p. 22) — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2005/36/oj/eng.
Industry in Europe is under pressure, due to several factors, including high energy prices, international competition amidst rising geopolitical tensions, and overcapacities in third countries[1]. Decarbonising our economies is a global challenge that can be an economic opportunity, as flagged in the Draghi Report[2]. The European Green Deal[3] and the recent Clean Industrial Deal[4] provide the toolbox to strengthen the business case for decarbonisation in Europe .
The Clean Industrial Deal puts forward concrete actions to turn decarbonisation into a driver of growth for European industries. Specific measures include the Affordable Energy Action Plan[5], aimed at lowering energy bills while promoting the necessary transition to a low-carbon economy, and the upcoming Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act, which will increase demand for EU-made clean products. The Clean Industrial Deal identifies seven indicators to measure progress, such as the annual installation of renewable electricity capacity and investment volumes under InvestEU[6] supporting industrial transition.
The Commission is not considering the introduction of a direct carbon levy for citizens on top of the EU Emissions Trading System[7].
[1] 2025 Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/publications/2025-annual-single-market-and-competitiveness-report_en .
In line with its communication responding to the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics — Commit to a Europe Without Animal Testing’[1], the Commission intends to finalise the roadmap by the first quarter 2026 at the latest.
Following the publication of the roadmap, the implementation phase will commence. It will start immediately, following a gradual approach. For some roadmap actions, e.g. recommendations to replace more complex endpoints, where no suitable or validated non-animal methods are currently available, the implementation will require years since progress will depend on the development and validation of such alternatives.
The roadmap will serve as a structured action plan that outlines the steps necessary for implementation, offering inter alia concrete recommendations for the integration of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) across 15 legislative areas that currently require animal testing for chemical safety assessments, not limited to the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation[2]. Its implementation will therefore be relevant to a broader set of EU chemicals legislation.
The Commission also intends to better integrate NAMs into the ongoing revision of the REACH Regulation, where scientifically and legally feasible, and in line with the outcomes of the roadmap development process.
The protection of children’s rights is a priority for the Commission, as confirmed in the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child[1], and the Commission Recommendation on integrated child protection systems[2], which calls on Member States to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, including corporal punishment and by actively raising awareness of the rights and needs of children among those who are in contact with children, including parents and care givers.
In addition, the Victims’ Rights Directive[3] recognises the special needs of child victims and the pending revision proposes an improved access to integrated and multidisciplinary support and protection services, to ensure that child victims are better supported and protected.
The directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence — which Member States need to transpose by June 2027 — equally recognises the need to protect child victims of domestic violence.
Reporting procedures need to be accessible in a child-friendly manner, the child shall be assisted by a trained professional and authorities shall implement state-wide effective, comprehensive and coordinated policies.
The Commission is fully committed to monitor implementation of the above-mentioned recommendation, pursue the adoption of the revision to the Victims’ Rights Directive and ensure the timely and appropriate implementation of the Violence Against Women Directive, which aims to ensure a speedy and coordinated response to domestic violence by competent authorities.
[1] EU strategy on the rights of the child (COM(2021) 142 final), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0142.
[2] Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/1238 of 23 of April 2024 on developing and strengthening integrated child protection systems in the best interests of the child, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reco/2024/1238/oj.
[3] Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA, OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 57, http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2012/29/oj.
The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that according to the Emilia Romagna managing authority, this regional initiative is not financed by the European Regional Development Fund nor by the Recovery and Resilience Facility but through regional resources.
According to its Article 51(1), the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union[1] is addressed to the Member States only when they are implementing EU law. In cases falling outside the scope of EU law, such as the present one, it is for Member States, including their judicial authorities, to ensure that fundamental rights are effectively respected and protected in accordance with their national legislation and international human rights obligations.
[1] Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, OJ C 326, 26.10.2012, p. 391-407.
The North Canterbury ranger’s job is to not only clean public toilets at DOC sites but also replace the toilet paper.
Now DOC has revealed how much toilet paper was ordered by regional offices around Aotearoa for the 2024/2025 period, a whopping 15.5 million metres nationally.
That’s roughly 15,500 kilometres of paper which would stretch the length of New Zealand nearly ten times.
The figures reveal across DOC’s operational regions the most toilet paper was ordered by the Southern South Island which includes Fiordland and the Great Walks (3,103,037 metres), followed closely by the Northern South Island which includes Abel Tasman Great Walks and the iconic Tōtaranui campground (3,069,369) and in third place, Hauraki Waikato Taranaki (which includes the Coromandel) 2,727,160 metres.
Daryl Sweeney looks after DOC sites in Canterbury including the toilets at the hugely popular and culturally significant Kura Tāwhiti/Castle Hill on the highway to Arthurs Pass and the West Coast.
“What we do outdoors makes all the difference for New Zealand’s unique nature. This includes toileting responsibly. How and where we go is key to ensuring we do no harm to our great outdoors.
“Visitors are encouraged to go to the toilet before they start their trip and plan stops at toilets along the way. Those heading further into the backcountry need to know what to do when there’s no toilet – you can find this advice on DOC’s website.”
And it’s not just about using the facilities provided, says Daryl Sweeney.
“It’s shocking how much toilet paper is used. Sometimes it’s piled up beside the toilet in a mountain. The state some of the toilets are left in is also appalling to be honest,” he says.
“You wouldn’t do this at home so why would you do it in public toilets. Everyone has a role to respect the natural environment and not leave rubbish in and around these places.”
North Canterbury Operations Manager Leeann Ellis says Daryl is just one of the hard-working rangers nationally who drive kilometres every day across multiple sites to replace toilet paper and keep facilities clean, including over the weekends and on public holidays.
“Many people don’t realise this is a core role DOC undertakes. It takes a huge amount of time for our rangers and some of what they deal with would turn your stomach,” she says.
With the opening of bookings for all the Great Walks this month, and on the eve of Kings Birthday holiday weekend, DOC says it’s a timely reminder for people to look after public facilities at DOC sites, to read the signs and not leave rubbish around for others to pick up.
Daryl Sweeney says everyone has a part to play in looking after nature and says it would be a huge bonus for him if the toilets were left in a better state.
“I’m answering other people’s calls of nature,” he jokes, “but it’s about time people answered their own, and respected the amazing places they are visiting. I feel like if people had to do my job for a day, they’d understand. My message is use the toilets provided, use less toilet paper, put it in the toilet or the bin and leave the toilet in a tidy state. It’s simple.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government welcomes passage of Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025Issued at HKT 19:54
The Government welcomed the passage of the Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025 by the Legislative Council today (May 28) to implement the proposal in the 2025-26 Budget to increase the air passenger departure tax (APDT) from $120 to $200 per passenger. It is anticipated that government revenue will increase by about $1.6 billion per year. The new tax rate will be applicable to air tickets purchased on or after October 1, 2025.
A Government spokesperson said, “The Government has struck a balance between increasing revenue and minimising the impact on passengers when considering increasing the APDT. The impact of the increase on the overall cost of travelling for air passengers (including tourists) is minimal.”
The Bill also streamlines the Government’s financial arrangement for paying administrative fees to the airlines and helicopter company. It empowers the Financial Secretary to approve their retention of part of the APDT collected for offsetting the administration fees payable by the Government to them, and provides that the retained fees do not form part of the general revenue under the Public Finance Ordinance (Cap. 2).
Scientists remove blur caused by Earth’s atmosphere, revealing a sharp view of the sun’s explosive turbulence
Using a new optical system, scientists at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Solar Observatory and the New Jersey Institute of Technology have captured the most detailed images of the complex movements in the sun’s atmosphere, the corona. The technology will allow scientists to better understand the extreme nature of the corona and produce computer models that more accurately predict space weather and potential Earth-impacting solar flares.
The researchers developed the new coronal adaptive optics system at the NSF-funded Goode Solar Telescope in California. Similar to a camera’s “autofocus” feature, the adaptive optics system continuously adjusts to counteract the blurring effect of the Earth’s atmosphere while isolating and zooming in on dynamic coronal features. The results of the study were published in Nature Astronomy.
Plasma movement in the sun’s corona
Credit: Schmidt et al./ NJIT/ NSO/ AURA/ U.S. National Science Foundation
This time-lapse video of a solar prominence shows how plasma “dances” and twists with the sun’s magnetic field. This video was taken by the Goode Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory using the new coronal adaptive optics system Cona.
“Observing the sun’s corona requires specialized optical capabilities because details are easily overpowered by the brightness of the sun and blurred from view by Earth’s atmosphere,” says Carrie Black, program director for the NSF National Solar Observatory. “This makes coronal adaptive optics all that much more technologically miraculous, and we expect they will help us better understand the dynamics of the corona and create more accurate predictive models for space weather.”
The sun’s corona — the outermost layer of its atmosphere, visible only during a total solar eclipse — has long intrigued scientists due to its extreme temperatures and violent Earth-sized eruptions.
Coronal rain
Credit: Schmidt et al./ NJIT/ NSO/ AURA/ U.S. National Science Foundation
Coronal rain forms when hotter plasma in the sun’s corona cools down and becomes denser. Like raindrops on Earth, coronal rain is pulled down to the surface by gravity. Because the plasma is electrically charged, it follows the magnetic field lines, which make huge arches instead of falling in a straight line.
In addition to recent advancements in detailed solar magnetic field mapping, this latest technology is a major development in ground-based solar astronomy. Researchers aim to pair the adaptive optics technology with the more powerful NSF Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii to deliver increasingly detailed coronal mapping.
Headline: Celebrate World Otter Day May 28 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Celebrate World Otter Day May 28 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores jejohnson6
PINE KNOLL SHORES
Guests to the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will have an opportunity to watch some exciting otter enrichment during World Otter Day on May 28 with North American river otters Eno, Pee Dee, and Rocky. The Aquarium is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The World Otter Day celebration at the Aquarium will include some otter-inspired activities in the Discovery Classroom and a special enrichment for the three otters at 11 a.m.
“Otters have such a playful nature — the littlest thing makes them happy. They are charismatic animals and watching them always rejuvenates me. We should celebrate World Otter Day every day,” said Kristen Cook, NCAPKS otterkeeper. “Watching the otters inspires me and our guests to help protect them and their habitats.”
Otters at the N.C. Aquariums
All three N.C. Aquariums are home to different otter species that inspire guests to appreciate and conserve otters worldwide. Both N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island care for North American river otters. N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher has a family of Asian small-clawed otters.
There are 14 species of otter around the world and World Otter Day was founded by the International Otter Survival Fund to highlight and bring awareness to threats otter species are facing.
While North American river otters are listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened species, their numbers had been reduced significantly in the late 1800s due to over-trapping and habitat degradation and are still not found living in the entirety of their historic range. Their population made a comeback from the brink of extinction in the 1900s thanks to conservation and reintroduction efforts.
What can you do?
While one person can’t do everything, everyone can do something — individual actions in your community can protect local species and they can create a ripple effect that can lead to protections for species across the globe
• Keep local watersheds clean from litter and pollution.
• Join a local trash pick-up or beach clean-up event.
• Find a citizen science monitoring opportunity to help researchers and conservation gain more insight on otters.
• Buy bird-friendly coffee—it’s produced on farms with a shade cover that provides important habitat for different species, preventing deforestation and destruction of homes for animals like Asian small-clawed otters.
• Don’t ever support illegally traded wild animals as pets.
Advanced Tickets Required Summertime is always busy at the Aquarium and otters are always a guest favorite. Seeing a special enrichment may increase interest and make the day busier than normal. For an enhanced visitor experience, get tickets online and in advance at www.ncaquariums.com/tickets-pks
About the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is five miles west of Atlantic Beach at1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores, N.C. 28512. The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Its mission is to inspire the appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments and animals. The Aquarium is under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, please visitwww.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shoresor call 252-247-4003.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
Headline: Nearly 2,000 Acres Adjacent to Moores Creek National Battlefield Added to N.C. Natural Heritage Areas Registry
Nearly 2,000 Acres Adjacent to Moores Creek National Battlefield Added to N.C. Natural Heritage Areas Registry jejohnson6
Almost 2,000 acres of forestlands adjacent to the National Park Service’s Moores Creek National Battlefield in Pender County were recently added to the State of North Carolina’s Registry of Natural Heritage Areas. The registry is managed by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Natural Heritage Program. The newly conserved lands are on five tracts of properties owned and managed by the Clint North family.
Inclusion of properties on the Registry of Natural Heritage Areas recognizes their value as important natural areas. The registry is a voluntary pledge by landowners to remain conscientious stewards of important natural areas under their safekeeping. A registry agreement signed by the landowner declares their intention to continue to protect and manage the special biological assets and other ecological characteristics of their property.
During a May 22 meeting at the Battlefield, Charles (Chuck) Roe, the founding director of North Carolina’s Natural Heritage Program, presented a certificate of recognition to the North family for their efforts to conserve these important properties.
Moores Creek National Battlefield is also on the state’s Registry of Natural Heritage Areas, as one of the early sites to be registered. At the May 22 meeting, another certificate of recognition was presented by Roe to NPS Moores Creek National Battlefield superintendent Matthew Woods, duplicating the award presented by Roe to National Park Service staff in 1986 for inclusion of the battlefield’s natural habitat areas on the state’s registry of protected natural areas.
Presentations of the Natural Heritage Areas Registry certificates were made on the fortieth anniversary of the North Carolina Nature Preserves Act, signed by Governor James Martin on May 22, 1985.
About the Registry of Natural Heritage Areas The Registry of Natural Heritage Areas is administered by North Carolina’s Natural Heritage Program, which is a unit of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ Division of Land and Water Stewardship. The property of an interested landowner is evaluated by staff of the Natural Heritage Program for the presence and condition of natural habitats and biotic resources of exceptional quality or uniqueness. For more information, please contact the N.C. Natural Heritage Program (www.ncnhp.org).
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – It was May 1968. The air was warm, and the laughter of children echoed through an alley in a quiet Wyoming neighborhood. That’s when two men in uniform appeared, walking toward a family’s future, carrying with them the unbearable weight of final news.
“We got excited to see them,” the sister said, her voice trembling but sure, as she stood before the crowd gathered for the Gold Star Tribute Ceremony. “We just knew Joey would be right behind them.”
But Pfc. Joseph Padilla would not come home from Vietnam.
The sister, only nine years old at the time, shared her story as if it happened yesterday. Her voice, filled with childlike innocence and lifelong grief, painted a portrait of the moment her world changed.
“We thought maybe Joey was hiding—playing hide-and-seek like he always did,” she said.
But that game would end in a silence no child should endure.
East High School ROTC Color Guard presents the colors while the East High School Choir Abby Petri and Kourtney Keller sing the National Anthem. Community members gather to honor Gold Star families during the 3rd Annual Honoring Our Veterans Memorial Day Joseph A. Padilla Tribute in Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 22, 2025. Gold Star families are those who have lost an immediate family member in military service—bearing the enduring weight of sacrifice and the legacy of their loved one’s courage. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joseph Coslett Jr.)
As the ceremony unfolded, her words reached the hearts of every listener. “I remember him saying, ‘You found me,’ and I began to cry.” That memory became a promise: To never forget Joey or anyone like him.
That promise bloomed into the Joseph A. Padilla Military Tribute Project. A banner initiative honoring the fallen, created not for attention, but for remembrance. Each banner carries a name, a face, a life given in service.
With support from First Lady Jennie Gordon, Gold Star Families, and Blue Federal Credit Union, the banners now hang with solemn pride. “They welcomed us with open arms,” she said. “This is our third year. I will forever be grateful.”
Maj. Gen. Greg Porter, Wyoming’s Adjutant General, followed her. “Memories, unless they’re shared, can’t be passed on,” he said. “Ceremonies like this matter because they keep the stories alive.”
He reminded the audience of the quiet strength behind every Gold Star Family: the parents, siblings, children and spouses who bear the burden of remembrance. Quoting President Reagan, Porter asked the question that begins our national anthem: “Does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave?
“It’s not a certainty,” he said. “It’s a commitment. One we must all renew.”
Maj. Gen. Greg Porter, Wyoming’s adjutant general, addresses attendees during the ceremony, encouraging all to “remember through action, not just words.” Community members gather to honor Gold Star families during the 3rd Annual Honoring Our Veterans Memorial Day Joseph A. Padilla Tribute in Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 22, 2025. Gold Star families are those who have lost an immediate family member in military service—bearing the enduring weight of sacrifice and the legacy of their loved one’s courage. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joseph Coslett Jr.)
That theme—commitment—ran through every speaker’s message. Retired Master Sgt. Russell Telander, with over five decades in the American Legion, read a poem written with the whispered memories of a veteran. Its lines carried both sorrow and hope: What force inside me made me choose to fight a war I knew I’d lose, to seek the truth I feared to see? What sort of demon was in me?
What force inside made me think, in terms of hell, I would not sink? And then, once engulfed by its ways, who would count my remaining days?
Who picked me up when I fell flat and said I was better than that? And as I chose to end the fight, who thanked me and said I was right?
Who chose the path that I would draw on, who left when I said—when I said “gone”? And when I knew the time was near, who held my hand and calmed my fear?
What force inside me made me trust that what I did was good and just, and for the rest of life I’d see, there was no demon inside of me.
Community members gather to honor Gold Star families during the 3rd Annual Honoring Our Veterans Memorial Day Joseph A. Padilla Tribute in Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 22, 2025. Gold Star families are those who have lost an immediate family member in military service—bearing the enduring weight of sacrifice and the legacy of their loved one’s courage. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joseph Coslett Jr.)
Telander invited the public to help place over 5,000 flags across five Cheyenne cemeteries to honor the silent rows of the departed.
Sheriff Brian Kozak echoed the theme of shared duty. “Nearly half of our deputies are Guard members or veterans,” he said. “When you’re in need—call us. We ride for the brand too.”
Then Nick Warren, survivor outreach service coordinator and the final speaker, came the charge to live worthy lives in the wake of sacrifice. “They gave every day,” he said. “Let us dare to be great.”
Near the ceremony’s end, silence settled as names were read. Each followed by the quiet nod of those who remembered. The Gold Star isn’t a title anyone wants. It is a mark of tragedy transformed into honor. A blue star in a window becomes gold when a life is lost. But in that gold, there is something sacred—something eternal.
East High School ROTC Color Guard presents the colors while the East High School Choir Abby Petri and Kourtney Keller sing the National Anthem. Community members gather to honor Gold Star families during the 3rd Annual Honoring Our Veterans Memorial Day Joseph A. Padilla Tribute in Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 22, 2025. Gold Star families are those who have lost an immediate family member in military service—bearing the enduring weight of sacrifice and the legacy of their loved one’s courage. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joseph Coslett Jr.)
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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The World Health Organization (WHO) in Angola is pleased to announce the launch of “Roda de Saúde”, a new monthly series of public conversations aimed at informing, involving, and empowering Angolan institutions and society around the main public health challenges and potential solutions.
The first edition of Roda de Saúde will take place at the Private University of Angola (UPRA) on Friday, May 30, 2025, between 10:00 and 11:30. Under the theme “Celebrating the Nursing Workforce: The Role of Nursing in Reducing Maternal and Neonatal Mortality”, the event will bring together WHO experts, representatives of the Angolan Order of Nurses, UPRA lecturers and students, as well as nurses working on the front line who will share their experience in the field. This first edition aims to celebrate International Nurses’ Day, which falls on May 12th.
With the “Wheel of Health”, the WHO aims to help promote open dialogue between decision-makers, experts, and civil society, foster informed public debate on critical health issues, and strengthen health literacy based on scientific evidence. The organization also aims to bring the population closer to trusted experts, including UN agencies and national health and academic institutions, and to strengthen collaboration between the WHO, multilateral and private sector partners, academia, and civil society.
Inspired by the traditional Angolan “Rodas de Conversa”, this platform values knowledge sharing, inclusion, and community participation as pillars for identifying lasting solutions to address Angola’s public health challenges.
By celebrating nursing professionals and their crucial role in maternal and newborn health, the first edition of “Roda de Saúde” lays the foundations for an ongoing movement of positive transformation in health in Angola.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Angola.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), May 28, 2025/APO Group/ —
The World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board today appointed Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi as Regional Director of WHO African Region following his nomination during a Special Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held on 18 May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
“I offer my warm congratulations to Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi, and to the government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania, on your appointment by the Executive Board as Regional Director for Africa,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We are grateful for your leadership and experience as we work together to navigate the challenges we face, and position our Organization to be stronger, more sustainable and more effective, using the current crisis as an opportunity.”
Professor Janabi expressed gratitude and pledged to intensify efforts to improve the health of the people of the African Region.
“It is with profound humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I accept the honour of serving as the new Regional Director for Africa. I’m deeply honoured and sincerely grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in me,” said Professor Janabi. “Strengthening the foundation of WHO’s work in the region remains a core priority for me. By aligning every action we take with country priorities we can deliver measurable, lasting impact that transforms lives.”
A prominent cardiologist, health strategist and global health diplomat, Professor Janabi has dedicated his career to strengthening health systems, advancing equitable care, and championing innovation and collaboration to improve health outcomes in Africa.
Professor Janabi will lead WHO’s work in supporting the 47 Member States of the African Region in their efforts to improve the health and well-being of the population. Along with partners, WHO in Africa works across a range of areas — from health system strengthening, to disease prevention and emergency response — to promote, protect and provide health for all.
His term begins on 30 June 2025 for the next five years and is eligible for reappointment once. He succeeds Dr Matshidiso Moeti, who led WHO in the African Region since 2015.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the Cabinet’s decision to increase the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops will help boost crop production and raise farmers’ incomes.
“We are fully committed to the welfare of our farmer brothers and sisters across the country. In this direction, an increase in the MSP of 14 crops—including paddy, oilseeds, and pulses—has been approved for the Kharif season of 2025–26. This will enhance the production of these crops and increase the income of farmers,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the hike in MSP for 14 Kharif crops for the 2025–26 marketing season. The government said the increase aims to ensure remunerative prices for farmers’ produce.
India follows three cropping seasons: Summer, Kharif, and Rabi. Kharif crops are sown in June–July and depend on monsoon rains, with harvest in October–November. Rabi crops are sown in October–November and harvested from January onwards, while Summer crops are grown between the Rabi and Kharif seasons.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Dan Simkowitz, co-president of U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley, in Beijing on Wednesday.
He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said China’s commitment to promoting high-quality development through high-level opening up will inject energy and new impetus into the Chinese and global economies.
The Vice Premier called on more US-invested financial institutions and US long-term capital, including Morgan Stanley, to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and actively participate in the construction and development of China’s capital market.
D. Simkovitz, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the significant progress made in the trade and economic negotiations between the United States and China. He said that he would continue to pay close attention to the Chinese market and provide high-quality services to promote investment cooperation between American and Chinese enterprises. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), has called for accelerating efforts to build a high-level military training support system.
Zhang Youxia, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the call during a two-day inspection and seminar on the construction of combined arms training grounds held by the People’s Liberation Army from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Zhang Youxia said efforts should be focused on improving the quality and effectiveness of training and enhancing combat capability.
It is necessary to direct efforts to ensure combat training to comply with the standards and requirements of real combat operations, to support comprehensive joint training, to expand capabilities and increase efficiency through information technology, emphasized the deputy chairman of the Central Military Commission.
He added that priority should be given to the construction of large training bases and the creation of conditions for training in new areas and with new quality, and also called for continuous improvement of the support system. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HOHHOT, May 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has called for greater efforts and more pragmatic measures to achieve new important results in the Three Norths Program, the world’s largest forest planting program to combat desertification in northwest, north and northeast China.
He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting on combating desertification in the Yellow River Bend area held in Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Tuesday.
The Yellow River is the second longest river in China after the Yangtze. Areas near its bend are among the three key areas for combating desertification under the Three Norths program.
The Vice Premier visited the areas of the water conservancy project, the Yellow River quicksand control project and the new energy storage project.
Pointing out at the meeting that significant progress has been made in advancing the Three Norths program over the past two years, He Lifeng noted that the program is currently at a key stage, stressing the need to clearly understand the current situation and challenges, and steadily implement the important strategic instructions given by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Three Norths program was launched in 1978 and is scheduled to be completed by 2050. Its goal is to restore greenery in desertification-prone areas in three northern regions of China.
By 2030, the country aims to achieve significant results in combating desertification in three regions through the Three Norths program: the Hexi Corridor and Taklamak Desert, the Khorqin and Hongshandak sandy lands, and areas near the Yellow River bend. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, May 28 /Xinhua/ — Russia is ready to provide Ukrainian negotiators with its memorandum on the terms of the conflict settlement during direct talks on June 2 in Istanbul, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
“Our delegation, headed by V. R. Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary clarifications during the second round of resumed direct negotiations in Istanbul next Monday, June 2,” reads a statement by S. Lavrov published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the memorandum sets out Russia’s “position on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis.”
“We hope that all those who are sincerely, and not just in words, interested in the success of the peace process will support holding a new round of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul,” concluded S. Lavrov. –0–